There is a very beautiful waterfall just ten minutes away from my house. Beautiful but dangerous. Yesterday, four college girls, all under nineteen, drowned and lost their lives. Their college life just started a month ago and unfortunately, they were from my college. It is a known fact that it's a very risky place and yet teenagers are often seen there. I can say their age may be the reason for their ignorance but it is difficult to believe all of them are ignorant. To all the kids out there, go and enjoy with your friends, have fun and do all kinds of crazy stuff but please be careful. Find out about the place before visiting. Don't take your safety lightly. At that age and to be honest at any age our life is never just ours. Things may seem exciting but are excitement worth losing everything for? Please be careful. And to all the Mumbaikars, rains are already crazy this year, don't get competitive. Give your life some value.

Anya moved her head softly from left to right and then left again, then moved her shoulders the same way before clapping her hands.  "So no one told you life was gonna be this way. Your huh huh lala life that way. It's like you always stuck in the second gear. When it hasn't been your day, your week your month, or even a year." Dia smiled and joined in. "I'll be there for you when the rains start to pour. I'll be there for you like I have been there before. I'll be there for you because you are there for me tooooooooo uuuuuoooooooo."

They started laughing hysterically. In all the months that they had live together, this was the moment they felt the most alive. They laughed with all their hearts forgetting everything and everyone. "I didn't know you were a fan of friends!" Anya exclaimed when they were able to control their laughter.

"I was once. Never completed the series."

"I have seen it millions of times. What should I do now?"

"Slowly add some milk and stir it well. Then after two minutes add some more milk," Dia said before taking three eggs in her hands.

"OK. Who's your favourite character?"

"I like Joey."

"He is a great friend! But I love Chandler the most.  I like Pheobe, too."

"Chandler is funny."

"He is the best!"

"Your friend is not a vegetarian, right? I added eggs. How did I forget to ask you earlier?"

"She isn't but Shravan started. She won't eat eggs. I should have told you."

"It's OK. We can start again. I will make something for us from this."

"Use it for your brother's cake. Suddenly it's all birthdays. It is as if the universe was waiting for us to decide and then the birthdays started showering."

Dia smiled. "August is full of birthdays."

"Actually! I know six people who were born in August."

"Wow."

"I know right." She giggled. "I am enjoying this. We should cook together more often."

"I like that idea."

"I'll be there for you." Anya shook her head and was smiling widely.

Dia laughed, "you are happy."

"I am actually not. But I am in a good mood right now."

"I hope you stay like that forever."

"I highly doubt that but thank you."

"Do you want to eat cookies?"

"You are going to make?" Dia nodded her head. "Why?"

"I just want to."

"Then be my guest."

Dia was baking cake for Himani's son and as it was Sunday Anya was helping her. Unexpectedly it became a jamming session.

"My moms calling," Anya said, "What did I do now?"

"As if she calls you rarely. They call you daily."

"We talked a couple of hours ago. Hello." Anya left the kitchen and went into their living room. Dia had to start again, so she did that while Anya was talking to her mother. She worked in silence until Anya came back. "What did she say?"

"She wants me to have dinner with them."

"You are going?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you are alone. I told her I will meet her next week.

"She wants to see you. Go and meet her."

"I kind of know why she wants to meet me."

"Why?"

"Probably found another guy for me."

"Tell me one thing, what are you still single? I mean why didn't you get married?"

"Because I don't what to."

"That's what I am asking. Why?"

"I don't believe in love or marriages."

"How come? Your parents are happily married. No one in the family got bad history."

"Yeah."

"Then?"

"Nothing. Just saw a fall and then kept seeing it again and again."

Dia paused and then looked at her cousin. Anya smiled before she took a spoon in her hand. Dia knew that Anya did not wish to talk about it so she didn't push her, though her mind did not leave the topic. Anya soon regained her energy and they laughed and sung songs the whole they were in the kitchen. They were done by four in the afternoon and an hour later Himani came to pick up the cake.

"I am so tired. Kids and their parties are more exhausting than adult parties."

"But it's such a great time for them. Come in."

"I don't have time but I really want to sit, " Saying that she came in. Anya closed the door, Himani sat on the sofa and Dia brought water for her. "Thank you, Dia." Dia smiled and sat on the chair.

"Your son must be excited," Anya said.

"Excited? He wanted to invite the whole school. It took me a week to narrow it down to ten kids."

"Ten is still too much."

"I know! And my husband, 'At least allow him twenty' twenty!?"

"As if he is going to help handle them."

"Oh, he is handling them. That was the condition on which the kids were allowed in the first place."

Anya laughed. "Good."

"Before I forget, tell me are we going to the wedding?"

"Baskar sir's?" Himani nodded her head. "I don't mind. You guys say."

"There is no harm in going. But it's so far."

"I know right and it's on a Wednesday. We will have to go after work. But it's closer to work so that's a bonus point."

"True, but it will be late to go home. My kids will be waiting."

"He told you to bring your kids."

"Who will bring them?"

"Can we take a holiday that day?"

"Everyone won't be allowed."

"He is the boss."

"He has people above him."

Anya pouted and sat down on the sofa.  "I haven't been to a wedding in forever. I wanted to go."

Himani smiled in amusement. "You want to attend a social event?"

"I am as surprised as you are."

Himani smiled and just then her phone started ringing. "Oye! My husband is here, so I am off. Bye." She stood up and took the cake in her hand. "Thank you so much, Dia."

"Let me know how it is," Dia said softly.

"Ok. Thanks once again."

The day was ordinary following that. They did nothing much. Anya and her friends discussed at length their plans for the wedding. No one had an issue but no one was motivated either. Anya after some time lost her excitement, nevertheless, it was decided that they would attend the wedding. Then the topic was closed and came up again only when after a couple of days Anya met Baskar at Samar's practice. "Sir? Hi."

"Hello," Baskar said with a fond smile.

"We will wait outside." Anya started to gently push Dia out.

"Oh, it's ok," He said standing up, "I came to invite him. You must be Dia."

Instead of replying, Dia looked at her cousin in panic. "Yes, " Anya replied. "Dia, My boss Baskar and sir, this is my cousin, Dia."

"Nice to meet you. Anya, you must bring her to the wedding."

"If she agrees to come then I am in."

"You must come." He said to Dia to which she replied with a smile which he could not see.

Soon baskar and Anya left. Dia sat on the sofa and held a big smile on her face. "I know what we will talk about today, " She was excited.

"What is it? "

"Stars."

Samar smiled, "I love stars."

"They are beautiful. "

"They are.  So what about stars? "

"Stars say anything is possible. They represent courage."

" How so? "

"In the dark when often we cannot see things, stars shine as bright as they can. They dare us to shine in the darkness.  You know when I see stars I feel they are saying 'go get what you want. You can shine brighter than us.' Don't you think? "

Samar smiled wider, "I think your elaboration is perfect. Star really shows courage.  They dare to shine even in the dark, provoking all of us to do the same. "

"I think the same! "

Samar laughed at her excitement, "You are in a good mood."

"I was waiting to tell you this. A few days ago I thought of it and wanted to see you soon but you were busy."

"Yeah, I am a little busy these days." She shook her head softly. "What's new with you? We meet after a long time."

"Yeah. I am going to meet my brother tomorrow."

"Really?" She shook her head furiously. "That's great. He knows about you?"

"We will tell him tomorrow. It's his birthday. He is turning twenty tomorrow."

"He is very young."

"He is. We have seven years difference."

"Then he must be the baby of the house."

Dia smiled, "He is! He is very sweet."

"You are close to him?"

"Yes. Our age difference maybe did it. We fought a lot but we are really close. And I grew closer to him after I got married."

"Is that so?"

"It is. He always made me smile. Whenever something happened I thought of running to him. I never did that but it felt good to know I had somewhere to go."

"That's really nice."

"I am talking a lot these days!"

"Aren't you enjoying it?"

"Hm." She said with a shrug.

"How is cake treating you?"

"Good."

"Enjoying?"

"I guess."

"So do you plan to open your own cake shop one day?" She shook her head in a no. "Why not?"

"Not that much into sugar."

"OK. Back then, when you were in college or when you were unmarried, you didn't like baking?"

"I liked it."

"How often did you do it?"

"Twice a week."

"And salt?"

"Generally just in college but that would be many days a week."

"And you baked at home?"

"Yes. That's all I did at home."

Samar frowned and shook his head. "OK. That's confusing but fine. Do whatever you want. Just find out what you want first." Dia shook her head again. "OK. Are you planning to go to the wedding?"

Dia quickly leaned forward and motioned Samar to do the same. Once he obeyed she whispered, "That man is getting married?"

Samar smiled, " No, no. His daughter is getting married."

"Oh. How does he know you all?"

"He works with Anya and My brother. Anya's immediate boss and he comes here because of his anxiety."

"Anxiety? He looks a happy person."

"Everyone looks happy at first glance. See again and you will see a change. Keep observing and you will see a tear waiting to roll."

"You should be a writer."

He smiled. "I do not wish to torture people."

"You will do great, I am sure. Your work will touch people."

"No one will read it."

"I will!"

He smiled again. "That's very flattering. Thank you."

"I am serious. Look I said I am talking a lot."

"That's a good thing."

"But it's not normal for me."

"That means your life is exciting. My life is boring these days. Even Anya is very nice to me. Do you know what's wrong with her? Did she start taking drugs?"

"You know that actually can be the case. She is unreasonably nice."

"She is,"  He said proudly.

"You never told her about your feelings?"

"I don't think there is a need for me to say anything."

"She isn't a mind reader."

"She should read her mind at least."

"After all these years you think she can?"

He smiled, "Hope is the word."

"You must do something. I heard her mother wants to meet her and she suspects it is because she found a guy for her. "

"Anya said that?" Dia nodded her head. "I saw that coming. At her age, I cannot expect her parents to be quiet."

"Which is why you must also not be. Talking to Anya di is useless." He smiled instantly. "So go and talk to her parents. I am sure they like you."

"They won't be satisfied just because they like me. She is their only daughter."

"Give me one reason to reject you." He chuckled instantly. "I am serious."

"You are getting too serious."

"You two should do the same. I still don't understand what's the problem here. You are definitely head over heels and she seems undoubtedly comfortable with you. You two are a perfect match."

"You have indeed started talking a lot." She narrowed her eyes. "I should have not told you about my feelings."

"Yeah, you should have told her instead. Why don't you tell her now?"

"She might hit me."

"She won't!"

"You know she can."

"Yeah but."

"Breathe." He stopped her. "Don't worry. I will talk to her soon."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She smiled widely and clapped her hands. "Congratulations."

"You are too confident."

"I have full faith in you!"

Samar threw his head back and started laughing hysterically unaware that there was someone observing his every moment. Though they sat in a closed room with a soundproof door in the middle, Anya felt like she heard him laugh. He was laughing and smiling. Anya was curious as to what they were talking about. She wanted to hear. She wanted to interrupt them but she sat glued to her chair though her eyes never left him. There was something in his smile she suddenly started to dislike. Maybe due to how frequently they appeared on his face, or maybe due to how happy it made him look or maybe how it was for someone else. His smile was making her restless. When he smiled once again she looked away. Rubbing her hands together she clenched her teeth. For a moment, she wanted to abandon her cousin and run home. She wanted to close her door and sit all alone. Her mind was up to nothing good but she still maintained the calm. But it was the calmness that comes just before the storm strikes.